Journal of Positive School Psychology http://journalppw.

com
2022, Vol. 6, No. 2, 233 – 240

WORK STRESS MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION

WITH THE ROLE OF HRM

Jyoti Kapoor1, Dr. Preeti Chhabra2

1
Research scholar, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies,Faridabad, India
2
Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, India

ABSTRACT
Behind of many problems in an employee’s life, there is almost one reason that is stress. Stress is
defined by a number of authors in their language. Stress at work place is an attention seeker
phenomenon in this modern word. It’s not just a word but a feeling which affect an individual
physically, psychologically, emotionally and behaviorally. Job stress is affected by three different
concepts which are, stressors, stress reaction, stress post-effect. Stress post-effect includes positive
stress (eustress) and negative stress (distress). These both play different role in the concept of stress.
Stress aspects that make an employee experience stress such as new project, targets, deadlines, new
opportunity, extra working hours, employer’s expectations, interpersonal relationship, colleagues’
disputes etc are stressors. In an organization, various initiatives are taken and the strategies are
constructed by the employees and employer to overcome this inevitable problem and make the
employee comfortable and more efficient. The HRM plays an important role in this. The study
focuses on the measures and keys to overcome stress with the role of HRM.
Keywords: work stress, stressors, post effects, Eustress, Distress, HRM

1. INTRODUCTION different phases of their work life. When an

1.1 Stress
The word stress is introduced by ‘Hans Selye’.
It is an inevitable thing in human life whether
it’s personal or work life. . Stress is dubbed as
health infestation of last two decades by WHO.
Subsequently stress is defined by different
author such as Beehr & Newman, McEwen,
Robbins and Sanghi etc. They described Stress
as a condition which arises from the people
interactions and their works. Stress can be
characterized by the forceful changes within
people, to deviate from their normal
functioning. We can also understand it simply
by a feisty environment in which an individual
is square up to a fortuity, constraints or demand
associated to his/her preferences and the
outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and
important.
1.2 Work stress
Stress is an increasing phenomenon at work
place that every employee experience in their
individual is employed somewhere he or she is
confronted with some opportunities, demands,
targets and threats one after another which
creates a rush of thoughts in mind leads to work
stress or job stress. It occurs when the
obligations of the job do not tally with the
abilities, deep pockets, or requirements of the
worker. Work stress can be defined as the
harmful physical and emotional responses that
have received increasing attention, in the area
of occupational health, over the last thirty
years.
1.3 Levels of stress
As we pronounce the word stress, there are
different images create in our mind, which all
are negative. Because we think the word stress
always put the negative impact in our life. But
it’s not true, stress has different levels and each
and every level has different impact on human
life. Fig. 1 explains that before the optimum
level, stress always has positive impacts. It’s a
comfortable situation, where an individual
work with more concentration and dedication.
But when it cross its optimum level, it doesn’t
Jyoti Kapoor et al.
remain just a word or feeling but serious
problem, issues, disease like cancer, ulcer,
Fig. 1
Source: Martin 2018
If we talk about stress levels there are a
number of studies which discussed about it
such as: The study is conducted by Ritu (2013)
to compare the manager’s stress level in both
private and public banking sector. For the study
data is collected from 300 bank employees with
the different factors such as age, gender and
role. The study also focused on stress related
problem issues and stress symptoms. The study
revealed that among the 300 employees more
than 150 employees suffered medium to high
level stress. In the study of Datt, Dr., Punam
and Washington, Dr., Anthea (2015) impact
of stress on work performance and career
development- Application of Herzberg’s theory
for handling stress effectively the researcher
discussed the both kind of stress eustress or
positive stress and distress or negative stress,
their impact and the measures to overcome this
stress with the help of Herzberg’s theory.
Positive stress factors always motivate an
individual to work efficiently but negative
stress factors has negative effects on physical
psychological, behavioral, emotion health
1.4 Stress impacts
Work stress is a situation in which individual
sometimes lost her sense of control, work
efficiency, interest in his job. Many
organizations in United State believe that the
increasing rate of stress has dreadful effects on
234
depression etc. even it may be reason of suicide
employees’ productivity. Some organizations
are not place adequately in quantitative
environment but there is always an effort to
increase the productivity so as to get maximize
the company, there are companies which
provide sensitivity to the employees but still
there productivity is reasonable depends upon
human resource management and inter
relationship between the employee and
employer. It has been also observed that the
employees are given perverse atmosphere to
work for the employer but does not bother
about the impact on health of the persons as
well as his responsibilities outside the
companies, the employer hardly find a person
of requisite qualification and aptitude to work
for in the company and the employee is asked
to fulfill every best possible demand of
employer that ultimately Leads to anxiety,
depression etc. in the employees.
Many authors gave the deep study about it.
Such as Bhavani SA, Sharavan and Arpitha
(2015) studied about employee engagement and
productivity. They interpret there is direct
relation between employee engagement and
productivity. If company’s employee is happy
and satisfied he/she will work with emotional
attachment that will ultimately increase
productivity and consumer satisfaction.
Bharathi T and Gupta K.S (2017), examine
the studies and researches to explain work
235
Stress and Productive capacity factors. These
factors have been discovered to develop the
hypothetical structure. The study includes work
stress variable such as Heavy Workload, Job
insecurity, Role obscurity, New Job, Over
Supervision, Job Satisfaction, Work life
Balance, Lack of Resource, Different
Commitments, Relationship Conflicts, Official
Support and Sex Discrimination. Timings,
Competence of Supervisors, Compensation,
Group Dynamics, Absenteeism and Presentism
are the variables used for Productivity. Above
review of different also supported the
relationship between stress and productivity
and efficiency.
Stress is affected by different factors such as
age, designation, work load, working hours,
workplace atmosphere etc. It’s also revealed
from studies that young employees experience
more stress instead of old employees. In the
study of levels of stress by Eric S. Parilla,
(2012), it revealed that job stress not at affected
by personal character but job position. There is
normal stress observed in employees working
under high profile job or top management such
as president or vice president. Highest level of
stress is observed in level of directors and
deans and balance stress is observed in staff
and faculty level. Kumari Geeta, Joshi
Gaurav, Pandey K. M. (2014), examine in
their study conducted in HCL, company with
100 employees the level of stress is always
high in young age group. As 93% of employees
felt high level stress under 40 age group. 74%
people felt frustrated because of deadline one
after another. Even they often felt lost or losing
sense of control in their lives.
Work place environment plays an important
role to increase the level of stress. Happy and
healthy environment keeps employees refresh
and energetic to do their work with more
efficiently. Singh vikram and chaudhary
suresh (2017) revealed in their study by
various test i.e. T-test and standard deviation.
That there is relation between employee’s
workplace and behavior, productivity and
performance. They discussed the term QWL
(Quality of work life), if the employee get a
good quality of work life he can enjoy his
personal life as well which ultimately reduce
stress.
1.5 Stress post effects
Journal of Positive School Psychology
Stress gives birth to a lot of issues in life but it
is curable. Actually stress always gives some
early signs such as sleeping disturbance,
irregularity in work, headache, aches and pain,
digestion issues, disrelish, quick pulse rate, loss
of eroticism, cold and flu, procrastinating
liabilities, addiction of smoke drug etc., over
eating or reduced eating, anxious habits like
desk tapping, irritating behavior etc. Stress can
be identified at this early stage and can be treat
calmly by adopting some prevention techniques
and intervention such as company trips,
friendly behavior, quarterly party etc. Negi
Poonam (2013) explained in her paper, a
comparative study on job stress among the
employees of SBI and HDFC Bank, the
different stress level and methods to get grips
with it. She introduced three different stages of
stress i.e. Alarm stage, resistance stage,
exhaustion stage. At these stages stress level
increases and correspondingly become more
dangerous. But accurate strategies,
organizational support friendly social
environment may be helpful to reduce stress. If
this stress is not treated well then it can be
more harmful and dangerous then accepted. It
may leads to Suicide, Cancer, Ulcer, Job lay
off, Jeopardize Company etc.
To overcome the stress, there must be some
strategies followed by employee and employer
as well. These strategies are helpful to make an
employee work more efficiently, effectively
and dedicatedly. Jain Priyesha, Batra Akhil
(2015) examine in their paper published in
IOSR journal that stress can be control if we
focus on techniques of reducing stress not only
cause of stress. There should be coordination
and cooperation within the employees and
supervisors. Managers’ friendly behavior and
proper feedback always motivate the
employees to do better.
2. Literature review
Daniels k, Gedikli C, Watson D (2017)
interpret in their paper that if the initiatives of
shared social activities is combined it may be
enhanced employees welfare. One can’t
associate a good social environment at the
workplace without the employee welfare.
In the comparative study of workplace of
agriculture and IT Sector by Prasad K.D.V,
Vaidya Rajesh and Kumar V Anil (2016)
Jyoti Kapoor et al.
revealed that there is moderate stress at both
situations and one can get grips with this stress
by developing some effective strategies by
keeping in mind different factors of stress at
work place
Bharathi T and Gupta K.S. (2017), interpret in
their study the relation between job stress and
productivity. By the two tests Correlation and
ANOVA. Through regression they proved there
is negative relation between both aspects. If the
job stress increases there will be decrease in
productivity. It’s reveal by the ANOVA TEST
that population characteristics do not have
difference in work stress.
Rasool S.F, Samma Madeeha (2020) examine
in their study, occupational stress does not
allow employee to do their work efficiently and
effectively. Work place violence plays a huge
role to increase the level of stress and
diminishing productivity. On the other hand,
harassment, mobbing, ostracism, stalking are
some other aspects that increase stress and
reduce morale, effects on emotional wellbeing,
lessens productivity leads to anxiety and
depression.
Yogeshwaram p. (2016) examined in his study
that stress affect the employee in both ways
physically and psychologically. It affects the
work life and personal life as well. Work life
balance needs the efforts made by all company,
government, employee’s family and employee
his self. With the equal contribution of
employer and employee one can overcome this
issue.
Karthik R. (2013) revealed in his study the
stress level of employees in the personal and
work condition. He says that stress can affect
a person in two ways good or bad. The study
explained that if there is moderate stress it can
be helpful to do work more efficiently. He also
discussed the measures and role of organization
to reduce stress.
. Parida Sarit Sambit (2016) discussed in her
study about policies adopted by the different
companies i.e. Intel, Tata (manufacturing), city
India, HCL, PepsiCo India, Marico, Hindustan
lever ltd., ICICI for the employee’s benefit.
The study examined that to meet the targets
given to the employee; they have to work after
normal working hours that lead to stress. There
should be WLBP’s in the companies for the
employee’s benefit.
236
Wan Hussin (2008) study on stress
management at workplace developed a 3D
model of stress management. He explained
stress management strategy in 3 different
stages. Where, in I stage he surveyed the exact
situation and called it unexpected stage. In II
stage he determined the level of stress and
called stress projection. And in the last and III
stage which is expected stage - the stress
findings is based on a stress management
strategy, mastery techniques and complete
knowledge of physical, mental and
occupational consequences.
The study of Sankpal, Negi, Vashishtha (2010)
was conducted to com pare manager’s work
stress in public and private banks with the
sample size of 100 employees (50each in both
private and public sector). This exploratory
study reveals that the employees working in
private banks bear more stress comparative to
public bank. There is no dissimilarity is
observed between the employees of both
private and public sector in their role
expectation.
In the study of Jayashree, Rajendran (2011) the
main objective of researcher was to analyze
work stress among the employees of public
sector. The data of 100 employees is collected
through questionnaire and personal interview.
After the pilot study and survey its’ revealed
that 97 percent of employees are in stress and
remain 3 percent are fine with their job. The
study is proceed with the help of the help of
different factors and causes of stress
The study by Samartha, Begum, Lokesh (2014)
has been conducted to analyze the difference
among public and privte sector banks stress.
The researcher used both primary and
secondary data for the study. For the study
researcher focused on total 6 banks of India
3each from both public sector and private
sector banks. Data is collected from 537
employees where 126 employees belong to
private sector and remaining 411 belongs to
public sector. With the help of the chi square
test it’s revealed that level of stress in both
banks private and public sectors with respect to
their work demand are almost identical.
3. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
 To analyze the level of stress to the
237
employees of companies.
 To identify the role of HRM in stress
reducing.
 To identify the impact and reducing
measures of work stress.
4. RESEARCH MTHODOLOGY
4.1 Data collection
The present study will be based on primary and
secondary data collection. Primary data source
is questionnaires Focused group discussions,
Interviews and discussions with 50 employees
of Indian companies.
Fig. 2
The chart in fig 3 shows that 24 employees
feels all type of stress which is 48% of total
sample size, whether employees remaining
Fig 3
Journal of Positive School Psychology
Secondary data sources would be research
conducted/ available by scholars, paper
published in online journals and books, relevant
websites.
4.2 Data analysis
The information collected from the employees
of different companies where 66% of
employees are males and remain 34% are
females revealed that top level employees has
low to moderate stress whether medium and
low level employees feels moderate to high
level stress at their workplace. 46% of
employees feel stress and 40% of employees
are even not sure or we can say they did not
realize that they are in stress.
52% of employees feel physical, psychological
and behavioral stress in their workplace.
 Jyoti Kapoor et al. 238

Table 1 : Impact of Work Stress at Various Situations

0(no 1(very low 2(low 3(moderate 4(high 5(very
stress) stress) stress) stress) stress) high
AREAS stress)

Working in normal working 48% 14% 20% 12% 4% 0

hour
Working after normal 6% 24% 14% 18% 24% 12%
working hour
Working in humorous 42% 22% 20% 14% 0 0
environment
Colleagues’/employers’ 18% 28% 6% 16% 14% 16%
behavior effect your stress
level

Tight deadlines 10% 12% 10% 28% 28% 12%

Work stress effect your work 16% 12% 12% 16% 20% 22%
efficiency
Work stress effect your work 12% 16% 4% 16% 22% 28%
life balance
No support from HRM of 20% 10% 8% 16% 18% 24%
your work place affect your
work stress

Table 1 show that there are different impacts of
work stress on employees at various situations.
Such as during normal working hours 82% of
employees feel zero to moderate stress, while
after normal working hours 68% of employees
feel low to very high level stress. It also
disclosed 42% of employees feel that humorous
environment leads to zero stress. Colleagues’
behavior, tight deadlines, and no support of
HRM leads to moderate to very high level
stress.
hours leads to too much stress and badly affect
the work life balance.
Job recognition: Employees’ work or
performance must be recognize and appreciated
by giving some rewards, incentives, gifts,
promotion etc.
Entertainment activities: HRM should
organize some sports or fun activity, trips,
events, celebration, monthly party, quiz,
competitions etc. it can be helpful to reduce the
stress level.

5. ROLE OF HRM Work allocation: Heavy work load is a major

There is important role of HRM to reduce the
work stress. HRM has the key of this inevitable
stress. As our survey revealed that the work
environment plays an important role in work
stress and this stress can reduce by:
Monitoring working hours: working hours
should monitor time to time, extra working
issue, It increases the stress level too much.
HRM make sure that work and time should
properly allocate.
Make some policies and strategies to overcome
the work stress. HR should also create a system
for Career growth roadmaps for the employees.
HRM should never ignore the employees’
problems and take appropriate measures for it.
239
6. CONCLUTION
Everyone wants Peace in their life whether its
work place or home. Work stress is a serious
issue in the modern life style. It’s become a
problem that must be resolved. The study
revealed that the high level designated
employees experience low stress and vice
versa. Work stress impacts the employee
physically psychologically and behaviorally. At
different situation the level of work stress vary.
The study disclosed that if proper steps are
taken by the HRM and proper strategies are
made to overcome this stress it can be reduce.
Humorous environment, good infrastructure,
proper work allocation, friendly behavior, is
helpful to get rid of the inevitable problem.
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